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a 


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1  2  3 


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3 

4 

5 

6 

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A^r  *'%■»'  /»i     ^o-<i^      .-  ^   r.«.  v«.,  V^f  , 


HISTORICAL    MAGAZINE. 


4^ 


Vol.  VII. 


MARCH,   1863. 


No.  3. 


6f«ei'al  gfinti'tittfut. 

NOTES  ON  THE  INDIAN  TRIBES  OF  BRITISH 
NORTH  A.MERICA,  AN'  THE  NORTHWEST 
CO.VST. 

COMMLMCiTEI)  Tfl    CKO.  GIBBS,  ESQ. 
UY  AI.KX.  C.  .VNDKnsO.V.  KSQ..  I.aTE  OF  THE  HON.  II.  II.  i(). 

Aad  read  before  the  New  York  HiKtoro-al 
Society,  Noi-ember,  IhO'i. 

The  jj^reator  portion  of  that  vast  tract, 
over  \vhich  the  c  tininerce  of  the  llud.son'.s 
Ha^'  Compiiny  extend.^,  is  occupied  liy  three 
distinct  families  of  tribes,  diHeriii};'  from 
each  otiier  widely  in  liabits,  and  totally  in 
lan^-uage  ;  Ist  the  Crek  or  Knistixkat,  in- 
cluding- the  ."^ALTF.ix  or  Ojidway,  the  Ai,(;on- 
QUiN,  and  other  subdivisions  ;  2d,  the 
CiiiPEWVAN,  embracing  the  T;i-enlly*,  or 
Carrier.'j  of  Now    Caled^jiiia  ;    and  3d,  the 

SaEUSS,   or  SlIEWHAI'MUCII. 

The  limits  occupied  by  the  first  of  these 
families  may  bo  tiius  aj)proxiiiiately  de- 
fined. From  Labrador,  up  the  St.  Law- 
rence as  far  as  Montreal,  tlirough  the  Ot- 
tawa country  and  along  Lake  Supr -ior, 
northwest-ward,  to  Lake  Winipic  and  As- 
sineboia.  Hence  west  towards  the  head  nf 
the  Saskatchewan,  as  far  as  Fort  PaIihou- 
ton.  Then  north  to  the  Athabasca  river, 
bonding  afterwards  Xo  the  east,  and  coii- 
tiimiiig  along  the  line  of  the  Missiiiipi 
or  English  river  to  Churchill  on  the  shores 
of  Hudson's  Bay. 

Northward  of  the  Crcc  lino,  almost  to 
the  P'rozcn  Ocean,  and  from  Churchill  wcst- 

X.  n — :h,  .-icccntol,  Iim^iloy  to  i-xpr  ss  the  giiltcrtl  sn:  nrt, 
*  aR  la  '•  Nicuto  luuoli  ;"  aj,o  rcp.-CBLiit.  tho  bnud  Buunvl  i  f  ilut 

4|     ,«t/      •riihciilly,peo;,(ti  uAo  f:oi'ij;a(c  (/>>■;)  waiert,t:uai  tJd^cWJy 
-»      —      <hiP'    Clili'iiwyau  IB  thi<  iruo  gcuer  iciiaiui'. 


>isi.  uxa.    VOL.  VII. 


59 


S-3iH9 


f  /.'-    yrc^id^ 


7 


ward  nearly  to  the  Pacific,  lies  the  broad 
band  roamed  over  by  the  Chipewyan. 

Crossing  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  the 
heads  of  the  northern  branches  of  the  Col- 
umbia, and  the  southern  tributaries  of  Fra- 
zer^s  river,  we  find  theSaeliss,  orShewhap-  / 
much  race,  whose  limits  may  be  defined  by  /\ 
the  Rocky  Mountains  eastward  ;  on  the 
west  the  line  of  Frazer's  river  from  below 
Alexandria  to  Kequeloose,  near  the  Falls, 
in  about  Lat.  49"  50';  northward  by  the 
Carrier  offset  of  the  Chipewyans,  and  south 
by  the  Sahaptins  or  Nez  Perccs  of  Oregon,      y 

Having  tiius  indicated  the  races  >♦£. 
which  this  porticm  of  the  continent  is  chief- 
ly intiabiled,  I  shall  passover  the  Chinooks 
and  other  tribes  living  south  of  the  British 
boundary,  and  confiuv'  my  remarks  to  those 
who  inhabit  the  coast  northward  of  that 
line.  / 

The  Saeliss  or  *Shewha,pmuch  connex- 
ion, as  I  I',  ve  already  shown,  ceases  ab- 
ruptly upon  Fra.  or's  river  at  a  point  about 
eighty-five  miles  above  Fort  Langley. 
From  thcJoJLs  downward  nearly  to  the 
sea  coast,  the  banks  of  the  river  are  in- 
habited by  several  branches  of  the  Haitlin 
or  Teet  f  tribe. 

Taking  these  as  forming  the  southern 
verge,  it  will  be  found  that  a  frii.g  of 
tril)es  borders  the  continent,  hence  round 
by  Behring's  Straits  to  the  banks  of  the 
St.  Lawrence.     The  breadth  of  this  fringe, 

*"  AIumIi,"  llio  iiamo  given  to  tliR  tliewliaiumicli  by  fir  Al- 
oxaiidoi-  McKciizi ',  and  tln'iice  i^U)pii'(t  iritd  tlio  itiafs,  is  sim- 
ply till'  trm  liy  wliich  tlieir  lU'iglibois.  llic  Ta-c»ily  disiiii- 
gii  sli  tlicm,  and  U  cqiiiv.ili nt  to  '•  ttranKii  tribe,"  i.  c.  not  of 
till' C'aipiwyau  cf):  !i!  xiin.  To  distirguifli  tbc  tribes  livirg 
west  of  thc';n,!ho  Ta-cully  use  auctbcr  mcdillicatiou  of  ihu 
term,  i  aiiuiy.  "Atri.b  yno." 

tCiillo  1  ill  turn  by  tiioir  uppor  ncigbborg^,"  i'a-chincn,"  r 
term  ftipan  lit  y  (quivalont  tn  that  first  oxplaiiifd.  Ilic  Toots 
i:piia,  call  t,l:u(itbois,  out  by  tlicir  true  uamu  of  >'icut«mucli, 
but"  Siiw-mcoBUk."    So  tUrougUout.  -^ 


\ 


74 


HISTOUl  C  AL*  MAGAZINE 


[March. 


y\ 


accessible  with  liic  ciiinKs,  in  wiiii'j;  t'lnm 
habit  or  necc^ssity,  all  their  <'xciiisiuiis, 
whether  of  |n'ace  or  war,  are  perf'urmcil. 
Tlie  Esijiiiiiiaiix  aro  the  solitary  oxc<']itioii 
to  this  j^'eiicral  rule.  Frc(|iit'rttin,<i'  liic 
islands    and 


if  I  may  so  term  it,  varies  with  the  nature  X.  and  extendiiij;' thro»<>;h  the  raniificatioiis 
of  the  country  wliich  it  Imrdcrs  ;  l)otnid('d  |of  Fitzhiii.;li  and  Miili.udv  Sounds.  The 
g-eiierally  on  the  larg'cr  streams  by  the  ex- j  Hailtsa  tribes  coniinunieate  with  the  soutli- 
t(.iit  of  unobstructed  canoe  navig'ation  ;  em  branches  of  Hie  Ta-cuily  sept  of  New 
elsewhere  proliably  by  the  limit  of  tlif  Oaledoiifa,  the 'I'a-otiu,  I'iiiicotin,  ai.d  Nas- 
coast  ranji,"e  of  mountain.s,  whence  the  cotin,  Haniely.  of  Alexandria, 
smaller  stre'.inis  orijiinate.  For  examiile,  j  The  (■mimskv.vn'  connexion  ensues;  ex- 
upon  the  Columbia  IJiver,  the  vicinity  of  i  tciidiui,^  from  Milbank  Sound  to  Obscrva- 
thc  Cascades,  about  120  mik's  from  the  .sea;  j  t(Hy  Inlet,  and  includiufv'  tiie  Sebas.sas, 
upon  Frazor's  Kiver,  Vie  falls  or  lirst  rap-  Ncecelowes,  Nass,  and  otlier  offsets.  Lan- 
ids,  aliout  110.  Nature  it  would  litiice  ap- 1  >?uaj:^o  bold,  sonorous  and  remarkably  cm- 
pcar,  herself  places  a  Ijarrier  which  alike  phatic  ;  contrastiuf?  broadly  with  that  of 
checks  the  future  extension  of  the  interior  the  Ilailtsa,  which  is  softer,  and  compara- 
nations  seaward,  and  |irevents  invasion  of  ,tively  of  (ame  expression.  The  custom  of 
the  coast  tribes  beyond    the    limits  easily   llattenin.ii'  the  head,  practio^'d  by  the  tribes  /^ 

between  this  and  the  Columbia  RiA-er,  does 
not  exist  here  ;  ceasin}"'   with  the  Hailtsa, 
amoiiji"  whom  it  is  conlinerl  to  the  females. 
To  compensate  for  the  absence  of  this  one 
ilistiiLcnratioii.   in  itsell'  to  our   ideas   sufli- 
ctiiist    from    tlie    virinity   of  ciently    revoltiiif^-,   another,  immeasuraldy 
Cook's  inlet  to  the  southern  jioint  of  liab-   more  so,  is    adopted — the   lip-appendage, 
rador,  they  do  not  jiciK-tiate  Hudson's  liavTIiis  is  simply  a  piece  of  either  hard  wood* 
beyond  a  very  limited  dislnuce  from  eitiierlor  ivory,  inserted  into  an  apertiu'e  |)ierct'd 
p.tint   of    the    Straits.       Tlie    Tliipewyans    in  the  lower  lip.     Tiie  females  alone  ])rac-      ^ 
succeed  them  for   a    siiort     sjiace    on    the   ti^;  it.     The  first    incision    commences   at       c/* 
Cliurciiill  s'liore  ;  the  Swamp  Crees  occupy   an    early  ag'c,  tin-    substance    inserted  not 
the  rest  of  the  circuit.  oxceeding  a  straw  in  diameter.     With  ad- 

Tiie  H.viTi.i.vs,  to  whom  I  have  incidental- j  vani-ini;-  years,  pieces  of  larg-er  si/,e  aiid 
ly  alluded  as  iniiiibitiii<>'  the  lower  parts  of;  more  ciimi)licated  shape  tire  sniistituted, 
Frazer's  iiiver,  rarely  venture  to  its  nioulh;  and  a  harridan  of  the  seventh  lustre  will 
where,  as  on  the  opposite  shore  of  Viin-  disjtlay  a  labial  deformity  whose  dimcn- 
coTivers  Island,  the  Ca-witchaiis,  a  bolder  j  »ions  it  might  seem  fabulous  to  describe, 
tribe,  hold  sway.  Death,  or  slavery  (.ven  ■  The  Ciiimseyans  communicate  with  the 
worse  tlari  death,  are  the  alternatives  prc-1  northern  branches  of  the  la-cully,  the  Xa"^ 
sentcd  to  the  weaker  amimg  these  tribes,  ta-otin  of  Babinc  Lake,  namely,  and  other 
when  tliey  arc  so  hapless  as  to.  fall  into  the   ncig-hboring"  septs. 

(iucen  Charlotte's  Island  and  Prince  of 
Wales  Archipelago  are  the  country  of  the 
Haidahs  ;  a  nnmerous  connexion  including 
the  Kygany,  .Massett,  Skittgetts,  Hanega, 
Cuiiishewas  and  other  septs.  Upon  the 
ftiundation  of  their  language,  as  upon  that 
of  theChiheelisand  Cliinooks  further  south, 
a  jargon  has  been  constructed,  serving  as 
a  lingua  franca  lor  tra<lc,  for  some  distance 
north  of  Milbatik  Sound.  Tho  Queen  Char- 
lotte's Island  branches  of  this  tribe  were 
formerly  less  wealthy  than  those  farther 
north  ;  owing  partly,  it  was  said,  to  the 
ooraparativo  scarcity  upon  tiieir  law" 


-4 


V 


/ 


power  of  a  more  puissant  neighltor.  Pal- 
isaded villages  and  other  precautions 
against  surprise,  show  that  even  at  home 
a  ceaseless  dread  ])revails.  This  state  of 
inse(Mirity,I  may  here  mention^  pervades 
the  north  west  coast,  more  or  less,  accord- 
ing to  the  strength  of  each  tribe  relatively 
witli  that  of  the  neighbors  around. 

The  (J.\-\viTJHANs,  UcALTAsand  Cuqliltus, 
who  are,  I  believe  of  the  same  family,  oc- 
cupy the  shores  of  the  Gulf  of  Georgia 
and  Johnston's  Straits. 

Tiicsc  arc  succeeded  by  tho  IIailtoA  con- 
nexion, commoucing  in  about  latitude  61" 


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8fi3.1 


HISTORICAL   MAGAZINE. 


fur  bearing  fiiiiinalrf,  whose  skins  then  bore 
a  considerable  barter  value  ;  but  probably 
more  to  their  remote  insular  rosilion,  which 
debarred  them,  in  a  j^-reat  measure,  fmni 
that  trallic  witli  the  interior  tribes  wliieii 
was,  and  is  still,  a  sunrce  of  profit  to  the 
inhabitants  of  the  main.  rrobal)ly  thcne- 
Ces.sity  lienee  arising  has  contributed  to 
render  them  as  n  body,  more  industrious 
than  their  neighbors.  Such  at  least  is 
their  reputation  in  the  inanui'acture  of 
grass  hats,  ornamented  stone  calumets, 
and  other  highly  wrought  articles  of  the 
like  simple  material  ;  to  say  nothing  of 
the  enormous  canoes,  in  the  modeling  of 
which  they  are  unsur|»assed*.  The'^culti- 
vation  of  the  potato,  too,  introduced  among 
them  by  traders,  was  a  branch  of  industry 
in  which  they  used  form  rly  to  excel  their 
nciglibors  inuneasurably  ;  raising  enough, 
not  only  for  their  own  suppl}^  but  with  a 
considerable  surplus  for  bartering  abroad 
for  luxuries  not  otherwise  obtainable.  It 
is  not  however  in  the  useful  arts  only  that 
they  excel  their  neighbors  ;  as  rogues, 
where  all  are  rogues,  the  same  pre-emi- 
nence is  awarded  them. 

Occupying  the  main  land  from  Observa- 
tory Inlet  and  Chatham  Sound,  nortjiward 
along  Clarenc^j's  Straits,  Uevilla  jKigedo, 
kc,  as  far  as  the  latitude  of  Sitka,  is  the 
TiiuxKiTF  connexion,  comr>risinir  the  Tum- 
guss,  Stikiue,  Cheelcat,  Talico,  and  other 
branches.  A  language  comparativ(?ly  har- 
monious, especially  as  contrasted  with 
the  rugged  energy  of  the  (,'liimseyan, 
whicli  albeit  is  to  me  far  more  agreeable, 
is  sjjoken  by  these  people.  'J'lic  southern 
jiortion  of  the  tribe,  inhabiting  the  harbor 
of  Tumgass,  Clemeneeti  and  other  points 
bordering  on  Ciiatham  Suuiul,  merited  the 
character  which  they  borL>*that,  namely,  of 
being  well  disposed  towards  tiie  Avhites  ; 
and  probably  from  more  frecpient  or  inti- 
mate conununiealion  with  the  shipping 
formerly  fre(|uenting  the  coast  for  trade, 
with  more  suavity  in  their  deportment  than 

"'IIK'B;' c.iiK  CJ,  si:  iiip 'i!  li'ir  ih-y,.  oT  I'l"  (  liiiiiHikR  iiU'!  Dtljrr 
N'.  W.nn<tl  ihi'P,  (lilt  111'  i.liutriiiik  111'  t  i-'l'iiij'  OiM-iilcululi.s 
.Tir  iHiti' 1  Inr  Uu'ir  Pl7.  •  ;is  \v  il  as  llic  I'lcpii  c  •' iif  llicir  ruriii 
N'l)  I'licmiiiiim  cil  inliii' liciHi'vi'i'  cmilil  mlil  ii>  ilii'  I'siiiiiiiliini  in 
wliicli  tlii'lie  lir.-iiilil'iil  vrfssols  urc  liv'l.l  liy  ull  wlm  liave  lisnl 
tlio  oiiixirtuiiily  of  vxaminiiig  tUtm. 


^yC^d^<^     fryit„.,J^^      "^/^  /  i,  <^; 


usual  around.  IJii^  the  northern  branohes 
of  this  tribe  were  less  favorably  charac- 
terized. .Some  of  the  olT'sels  are  in  com- 
munication for  the  jiurposes  of  barter  with 
the  Chipewyans  frerpienting  the  posts  of 
Mclvenzie's  Kiver. 

Several  tribe,;  are  named  by  travek'rs  as 
occupying  th(>  coast  between  Sitka  and 
Ik'hring's  Straits  ;  but  with  the  exception 
of  the  Kamlcuks,  or  Kauscians,  extending 
from  the  former  point  to  the  neigliborho(.d 
of  Prince  William's  sound,  these  septs, 
whatever  the  variety  of  dialect  that  i)ossi- 
bly  exists  among  them,  m:  y  all,  I  have  rea- 
son to  believe,  be  referred  to  the  Esqui- 
maux connexion — that  widely  extended 
race,  occupying  (the  inner  shores  of  Hud- 
son's Bay  excepted,)  the  whole  continental 
border,  from  (Jook's  Inlet  to  the  extreme 
point  of  Labrador,  with  the  interjacent 
lal)3'rinths  of  islands  and  iidets.  The 
character  of  the  Kaliuchcs  seems  to  bo 
even  more  warlike  and  ferocious  than  that 
of  their  neighbors  farther  south.  Indeed 
it  is  worthy  of  notice  that  up  to  the  point 
where  the  N.  W.  coast  tribes  may  be  as- 
sumed to  terminate,  and  the  Esquimaux  to 
begin,  the  degree  of  characteristic  hardi- 
hood ajipears  to  increase  with  the  increase 
of  latitude.  The  Kaliuchcs  have  on  more 
than  one  occasion  given  proof  of  this  in  a, 
their  intercourse  with  the  ftiiV^iXjis  ;  who  y 
at  times  have  had  their  own  trouble  to 
maintain  their  ground.  Beyond  the  Kodi- 
ak  this  energy  seems  to  decline,  and  prob- 
ably continues  to  do  so  as  far  as  the  race 
extends  along  the  eastern  coast,  where  cer- 
tainly it  is  by  iKj  means  noted  for  any  de- 
gree of  boldness. 

Wilhotit  attem])ling  to  give  any  regular 
or  delaikv.!  account  of  their  haljits  and 
customs,  I  shall  r.ow  proceed  to  note  brief- 
ly some  of  the  more  obvious  points  where- 
in these  western  tribes  difler  from  those  of 
the  east  aid  from  each  other. 

The  Ta-cully  or  Carrier  branch  of  the 
Ciiipewyans  hunt  the  tract,  lying,  ap])roxi- 
ni.'itely,  between  .52"  and  oT^  north  latitude 
and  121"  and  127"  west  longitude.  This 
country  was  first  visited  by  Sir  Alexandci* 
McKenzie,  who  in  1793  traversed  it  on  his 


7 


'* 


A 


76 


HISTORICAL   MAGAZINE. 


\ 


[March, 


way  from  Athabasca  to  the  Pacilic.  It 
was  not,  however,  till  1805  that  the  first 
port  was  established  by  the  tlien  existiiiji,- 
North-west  Company.  >'  In  1H35  I  estimat- 
ed the  population  at  about  five  thousand. 
A  census  taken  in  1839  fell  considerably 
short  of  that  estimate  ;  but  the  diflercnce 
can  be  accounted  for,  lo  a  j^reat  extent,  by 
the  unavoidable  omission  of  many  families, 
and  the  difficulty  inseparable  from  the  at- 
tempt to  number  simultaneously  a  sparse 
population,  occupying  so  larj^c  a  count  r}-. 
Believing  still  my  estimate  to  have  been 
near  the  truth  I  subjoin  the  official  return, 
which,  correct  as  far  as  it  goes,  will  ex- 
hibit the  relative  proportions  of  the  sexes, 
and  also,  by  comparison  of  the  rising  gen- 
eration, show  that,  notwithstanding  the 
humane  care  extended  towards  tiie  natives  ! 
by  the  agents  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 1 
pany,  and  the  absence  of  liquor  and  other 
deleterious  merchandise  as  a  depopulating 
cause,  a  rapid  decrease  is  in  progress. 

Men 897 

Women         ....  G88 

Sons 578 

Daughters    ....  4'62 


Total 


.     2G25   1^ 


For  much  of  the  character  of  the  Carri- 
ers, I  may  refer  to  the  excellent  account  by 
Sir  Alex.  McKenzie  of  the  Chipewyans, 
prefixed  to  the  narrative  of  his  travels  ; 
premising  merely  that  the  former  have  per- 
haps degenerated  in  many  points  from 
what  I  assume  to  be  the  parent  stock*. 
Altogether  the  Carriers  may  bo  set  down 
as  a  peaceful  race,  well  disposed  towards 
their  white  traders  ;  yet,  while  peaceful, 
subject  to  violent  though  transitory  out- 
bursts of  passion.  They  have  so  far  as- 
similated with  the  neighboring  coast  tribes, 
as  to  have  adopted  their  practice  of  burn- 
ing the  dead  :  and  one  branch,  the  Nata- 
otins  of  Nata-punkat  or  Babinc  Lake,  who 
are  in  frequent  communication  with  the 
Chiraseyans  imitate  them  in  the  insertion 

*  I  may  here  remark  llml  Iiliir.tr  Irom  Sir  Alixandt-r's  as- 
samptlon  Uiut  the  emigration  of  the  rlii|)(>wyans  lias  born 
from  west  to  cast,  lor  reasoos  to  wbicb  I  shall  probabiy  rclor 
luvldeaUiiix  as  I  proceed. 


/ 


of  the  wooden  lip.  The  former  practice, 
one;-  general  among  the  la-cully,  has  dur- 
ing the  last  twenty  years,  gradually  been 
falling  into  disuse.  It  was  cmr  object  to 
discounteniuice  it,  not  from  any  objecticm 
to  the  custom  itself,  but  because  great 
cruelties  were  frequently  exercised  at 
these  suttees,  where  the  survivor  of  a  mar- 
ried pair  was  expected  to  submit  to  a  good 
scorchin;-  voluntarily,  and  usually  did  lO, 
if  not  voluntarily,  by  compulsion  as  the  al- 
ternative. Thus  some  tortures  were  in- 
flicted, especially  in  the  case  of  females, 
who  being  the  weaker,  always  fared  the 
worse.  The  ashes  were  afterwards  borne 
by  the  survivor  I'or  some  times  several 
years  ;  until  a  grand  feast  to  the  manes 
liAviiig  been  publicly  celebrated,  the  last 
relics  were  tinally  inurned,  placed  on  a 
high  post  in  a  cfmspicuous  jiart  of  the  vil- 
lage, and  the  term  of  mourning  was  con- 
sidered over.  Under  the  reformed  system, 
the  t(  rlures  are  omitted  ;  the  cares  before 
bestowed  in  ornamenting  the  urn  (or  rath- 
er wooden  box,)  are  now  appropriated  to 
the  decoration  of  the  grave  :  the  other  por- 
tions ofthe  ceremony  remain  unchanged.  *^ 

The  Ta-cully,  like  their  Chipewyan  rela- 
tions, are  expert  in  the  preparation  of  the 
snare,  and  other  devices  for  capturing 
game  and  fish.  Their  weir  for  catching 
salmon  exhibits  much  ingenuity,  and  mer- 
its a  description  which  I  shall  probably 
subjoin  in  an  appendix.  Many  other  of 
their  devices,  indeed,  might  be  considered 
equally  worthy  of  notic -,  but  the  dread  of 
e.vtendiug  these  notes  over  too  great  a 
space,  warns  me  to  abstain. 

The  Shewhapniuch  (Atnahs  of  McKen- 
zie, as  before  explained,")  who  compose  a 
large  branch  of  tiie  Saeliss  family,  occupy 
the  banks  of  Thompson's  River  ;  and 
along  Frazer's  River  from  the  Rapid  vil- 
lage, twenty  miles  below  Alexandria  to  the 
confluence  of  these  two  streams.  Thence 
to  near  the^alls,  as  before  nojed,  the  tribe  P^  y 
bears  the  name  of  Nicutc-much*.  On  the 
other  hand,  approaching  the  Columbia,  it 


*Coiruptod  by  tlu"  Canailiin  voyagers  iuto  "  Coiitiaux,"  or 
v.ives  ;  by  which  ilesiguatiuii  they  are  now  geucrally  known 


/^ 


\J^- 


/. 


Ki  .     . 

aiLong  them. 


■>.v 


-^V'^^ 


/ 


/ 


1863.] 


HISTORICAL    MAGAZINE. 


77 


A 


\.,    ^ 


/.. 


- 


^  y. 


merges  into  tlie  Okinaganbrmicli.  TlicRO, 
with  the  Siiiajjoihich,  the  SpokariB,  tlie 
Skoiolpoi  of  Colville,  and  their  oflyliiHjtH, 
continue  the  connexion  to  the  SaelisH,  who 
compose  the  eastern  branch.  My  not  ice  of 
this  tribe  will  be  conlincd  chiefly  to  tlic 
western  and  k'ss  known  portion,  occupying 
the  vicinity  of  Frazer's  River. 
^  On  leaving  the  verge  of  the  Carrier 
country,  near  Alexandria,  a  tnarkcd  change 
is  at  once  porccptibh'.  A  dialect  of  the 
Saeliss,  guttural  and  dissonant  to  a  degree, 
succeeded  the  dialects  of  Chipewyan  root, 
in  themselves,  by  the  way,  nowise  remark- 
able for  eui)hony.  In  customs,  the  change, 
though  less  abrupt,  is  very  striking.  We 
may  note,  for  example,  the  different  struc- 
ture of  their  dwellings,  and  the  ojjpositc 
views  of  comfort  whieii  their  neighbors 
appear  to  maintain.  The  Carrier,  duiing 
summer,  while  livimg  at  his  iishing  village, 
resides  in  a  house  the  four  walls  of  which 
are  framed  with  posts  iilled  up  with  neatly 
peeled  pine  saplings,  and  surmounted  by 
a  substantial  roof  of  bark.  Beneath  the 
slope  of  this,  his  split  salmon  arc  hung  to 
dry  in  the  smoke,  while  the  inmates  recline 
luxuriously  amid  the  unctuous  drippings 
beneath.  When  cold  weather  approaches, 
these  fishing  stations  are  abandoned,  and 
the  inhabitants,  first  having  stored  their 
dried  fish  and  berries,  disperse  to  winter 
in  spots  favorable  for  snaring,  and  where 
dry  fuel  is  abundant.  There,  congregated 
in  little  hamlets  of  several  families,  each 
household  eonstruets  a  roomy  hut  of  pine 
boughs  8o  thickly  jiiled  and  interthalched 
as  to  af!ord  pcifect  shelter,  and  with  the 
aid  of  a  substantial  fire^to  become  a  dwel- 
ling, airy  indeed,  but  suflicieiitly  warm  and 
agreeable. 

The  Atnah,  on  the  other  hand,  erects  dur- 
ing the  summer  a  hasty  pent-roof,  with  a 
few  mats  or  some  boughs,  in  such  wise  as 
to  afford  shade,  at  least,  if  not  shelter. 
Winter  calls  for  a  warmer  retreat.  To  se- 
cure it,  a  large  hole  is  dug  in  the  ground  ; 
the  cavity  is  roofed  over,  and  then  closely 
covered  with  the  earth  taken  from  the  in- 
terior, A  notched  post,  projecting  through 
a  bole  in  the  roof,  at  once  door  and  chim- 


ney, aflbrd  the  means  of  ingress  and  egress 
A  very  small  lire  serves  to  keep  such  a  habi- 
tation warm;  Imt  the  den  is  necessaiily  un 
wholsome,  and  redolent,  as  may  be  sjipposed, 
of  any  thing  but  roses.  1  have  ment'u'ed  al- 
ready that  at  the  opposite  verge  of  thcTa- 
cully  nation,  the  lip  disfiguration  has  been 
borrowed  from  the  C'himscyans  of  the  coast; 
in  turn  the  Ta-oiins*  of  Alexjindria  have 
assimilated  with  their  Shewhaj)  neighbors 
in  so  far  as  to  have  adopted  the  filthy  huts 
in  question^  but  the  practice  does  not  ex- 
tend further  into  New  Caledonia.* 

The  Shewhapunich  are  greatly  destitute 
of  that  pride  of  personal  adornment  Mhich 
characterises  the  Carriers  in  common  with 
most  savage  nations,  not  to  mention  those 
civilized  ones  among  whom  it  is  no  wise 
eschewed.  Among  the  lower  Nicnte- 
nniehs,  indeed,  setting  ornamejit  aside  as  \ 
far  as  regards  the  male  inhabitants,  even 
Ihe  ordinary  observances  of  decency  in 
dross  are  neglected.  I  am  thus  precise  be- 
cause the  contrast  is  great  in  this  respect 
between  tl:.?  modesty  of  the  interior  na- 
tions, and  the  absence  of  it,  so  manifest 
on  the  part  of  the  male  population  of  the 
N.  W.  coast  and  its  immediate  vicinity.  I 
may  here  further  mention  that  of  all  (he 
numerous  Indian  septs  Avith  which^I  have 
become  aciinaintcd,  the  Nieutcmr.chs  are 
perhaps  nearest  the  savag'e  state.  Congre- 
gating for  mutual  protection  in  villages, 
frequently  palisaded,  they  had,  until  lately, 
a  very  limited  intercourKe  with  the  whites. 
Their  country,  poor  in  fur-bearing  animals, 
or  to  say  the  least,  negligrntly  hunted,  held 
out  no  inducement  for  the  establishment 
among  them  of  trading  posts;  the  source 
of  com|)arative  affluence  tet  their  neighbors. 
Poor,  naked  and  numerons,  the  habitual 
treachery  and  vindictivcness  of  their  charac- 
ter are  fosterc  d  by  the  ceaseless  feuds  which 
they  entertain  with  all  around.  Nor  is  this 
inimical  spirit  confined  to  external  enemies; 
n(>arlv  evt'ry  family  has  a  minor  vrvdetlaoi 
its  own  to  prosecute.  Yet  while  exphjring 
with  a  small  party  toward  Fort  Langley  in 

*Ti<)tiii,  111'  Fiita-otiii,  i.  ctlii"  "  lower  pcoiili'"  r.s  ik  piiry- 
iiiK  Ihc  liiwif t  |mi  t  on  Fiuz  'i  's River  ot  llif  Can  icr  ir.ln'.  Tlio    ^ 
goiioruliitIl.\,  "uliu  "  is  simply  II  iivi(Una;tioii   cf^  ilic  word   / 
(iinnet,  Higniryiug  "  n  man,'"  iu  Chipowyau  uud  Ta  cully.,        / 


/\ 


A  A 


A 


y 


/>-<4, 


78 


niSTORICAL    xMAGAZTNE. 


[Miirch. 


tlio  HiiiiiiiU'rH  of  184(5  and  1847,  I  was  rc- 
coivi'd  aiiioiij;'  tlicsc  |M'oi)Ic  with  the  kiiitlcst 
dt'iiiDiistiatitiiis,  (.'(•riiiiiilv  »1  lln'  lime  slii- 
coiv,  and  wlu'ri'iif  llic  notinii  is  still  possi- 
bly undintiuiicd.  Man,  woinmi.  and  riiild 
at  t'vory  villan'c,  ltron;;'lit  a  (rillin;^'  present 
of  wek'nnic,  wlicllier  of  lisli,  \vil<l  iViiilM,  or 
other  loeal  pn  diielion.  It  was  of  confse 
inipoHsible  to  convey  away  the  enorinons 
piles  thus  iicciiniulated  ;  so  alter  a  present 
of  trifles  in  return,  the  olferinj;- remained  lor 
a  p^oneral  scramble  on  our  depaiture.  Every 
thiiifjf  was  cDuh'ur  di'  roxe  on  these  ocea- 
sions  ;  liut  then  i  \\".  felt  eonstantly  as  if 
seated  <  n  a  powder  magazine  vvhieh  a  spark 
might  at  any  moment  ignite. 

Leaving  Kefpieloose,  the  lowest  village 
on  Frazer's  IJiver  of  the  Sliewhai)nineli  con- 
nexion, a  few  mills  of  "debateabh;  land" 
occur  until  we  reach  the  lirst  villiige  on  the 
Sachinco,  or  Teets,  a  palisaded  fort  imme- 
diately below  Uie  Falls.  I>uriiig  the  !^al- 
mon  season,  trusting  in  the  strength  of  num- 
bers, the  inhabitants  of  the  (ip])er  villages 
of  the  Teets,  congregate  and  occupy  the 
whole  extent  of  the  adjacent  falls  and  rap- 
ids, in  length  about  three  miles  ;  retreating 
to  their  palisudcd  dwellings  below  as  soon 
as  the  fishing  is  over.  Cowardly  and  treacli- 
c.'ous  to  a  degree,  these  Indians  possess  all 
the  vices  of  the  coast  tribes,  while  exhibit- 
ing none  of  the  redeeming  (pnilities  of  the 
interior  nations.  Slavery,  which  is  not'prac- 
-i  ti^'d  among  the  Carriers  and  Snewhap- 
much,  here  commences.  Tluuigh  as  men, 
inferior  even  to  the  N'icutenmcli,  savage  as 
I  have  stated  them  to  be,  these  lower  Indi- 
ans are  ingenious  and  more  industrious  : 
hence  comparatively  rich.  Their  canoes 
are  formed,  like  those  of  the  Chinooks  and 
others,  of  the  TVnfy'a  cedar  ;  and  as  all  their 
travelling  is  done  by  water,  every  one  has 
a  canoe  for  daily  use  and  convenience. 
From  point  to  point  as  we  descend  the  riv- 
er, the  palisaded  villages  which  I  have 
mentioned  appear.  Around  gand)ol  whole 
hosts  of  wliite  quadrupeds,  some  shorn  like 
sheep,  others  sweltering  under  a  crop  ol 
flowing  lleece.  A  stranger  sentimentally 
disposed,  might  possibly  on  getting  a  dist- 
ant view,  imagine  a  scene  of  Arcadian  fe- 


licity, people  it  to  his   heart's  content,  and 
sing  as  did  one  of  yore,  -.     ■  ■  ■ 

'■  n  'iii'.iix  i|iil  w  iiiiiin  It  ilii  liilt.  ill'  w*  lii'i'lilfi 
1,1  i|   I  il  •  Iriir  l..>.  II,  \(Ml  (1!''|-  *>■*  Imlills.'' 

Ib't  alas  !  worthy  stranger,  these  are  only 
dogs  :  their  owners  (alas  again!)  the  veri- 
est knaves  and  pill'erers  under  the  Min. 
The  dogs  in  (|uestion  are  of  a  breed  jiccu- 
liar  to  the  lower  parts  of  Frazer's  K'iver, 
and  lh(^  southern  portitm  of  Vaiu'onver's 
Island  and  the  (inlf  of  (leorgia.  White, 
with  a  long  woolly  hair  and  bushy  tail, 
they  dilVer  materially  in  aspect  from  the 
common  Indian  cur  ;  possessing,  however, 
the  same  vidpine  cast  of  countenance. 
Shorn  regularly  as  the  crop  of  hair  matures, 
these  creatures  are  of  real  value  to  thilr 
owiuMs,  yielding  them  the  material  whence 
blankets,  coarse  it  is  true,  but  of  excellent 
fabric,  are  manufactured.  My  hai)its  of  life 
since  early  manhood,  have  |)ossibly  tended 
in  some  degree  to  'olunt  the  power  of  ap- 
preciatitui  in  these  matters,  but  1  confess  I 
could  not  witness  without  satisfaction,  the 
primitive  approach  to  textile  manufactures 
which  h(>re  fiist  recurred  to  my  view  after 
the  la])se  of  many  years.  An  additional 
interest  w.is  afterwards  created  in  my  inii.d, 
wlien^o!i  examination,!  found  the  imp^ 
inent  i;se(l  for  weaving,  difi'ored  in  no  ap- 
p;iient  respect  from  the  rude  loom  of  the 
days  of  the  Pharaohs,  as  figured  by  mod- 
ern archaists. 

The  aptness  in  the  useful  arts  which  I 
have  noticed  as  existing  anmng  the  inhabi- 
tants of  tJie  lower  Frazer,  is  not  coniincd 
to  them,Mt  extends  along  the  north  west 
coast,  where,  among  (riferent  tribes,  it 
manifests  itself  in  various  sha])<'S.  To  the 
ingenuity  of  the  Queen  Charlotte's  Islands 
I  have  already  alhuhd  ;  but  it  is  not  my 
intention  to  dwell  longer  on  this  point. 

Passing  over  the  intervening  s(  pts,  with 
whom  I  am  very  jiartially  acquainted,  I 
K.hall  proceed  to  the  Ilailtsa,  of  Milbaidt  and 
r^Mtzhugh  Sounds.  The  custom  of  flattening 
'he  scull  exists,  as  1  hav(.'  already  mention- 
ed, among  these  people  :  unlike  tlie  Chi- 
nooks however,  they  do  not  pracli/fe  it  on  / 
both  sexes,  but  on  the  f{  maleiM  only.  The'' 
national  dress  of  the  Southern  females,  the 


X    <^'-U  4  At,  ^x.  ^tVrv 


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1803.1 


IITSTORTCAL    MAOAZTNE. 


T9 


fa'ajiifilhu'  (if  ill  •  CliiiKjdkH,  ecasc-t  with  tlii'   tiiiipt,  lidwcvcr,  In  enter  into  Ciirtlu'rdcliiilH 

iv;;-:ii'ilini;-  spciiiil  |Miiiits,  I  nIiuII  hazard  a 
few  rcinarks  as  tu  the  raees  nl'  whicli  I 
liave  treated. 

Ah  liefore  iiieiitiniied,  I  lielieve  the  Chip- 
eu'vaii  til  liave  eiiii^irated  IVom  the  SVI'MI- 
wanl.     I  believe  them  to  lie  of  A.siatic  oii- 


lilli'ts  i>l'  iftl-   tv''"',  Mv'.io    lien'  tliiM    in    l\\'i 
poiiils  at  h'a.st,  lie  waid  to  assimilate  to  the 
HoMlherii  races  ;  thou^^'h  their  laii,iiMiaj;-e  and 
f>'eiieral  eiHtoms  are  ddlereiit. 

The   ehiel"    distinctive   pccaliaiilv  oT  (he 
liailtza  is  the  practice   of    liilinu"   the  arm, 


iU^^ 


I'ullowiii;^-  a  custom  of  superstitions  oriji,'in.  \'/\u,  and  to  have  entered  America  liy  th(! 
and  certainly  most,  barbarous  ellect.  .\11  way  of  lU'hiin;:,'s  Straits  ;  afterwards  to 
tlio  aduU  m:il(!s  Cslaves  of  ours  ;  excepteil)  have  been  int<'rcepted  from  the  coast  by  the- 
have  their  arms  scarred  with  the  imirid  Cxteiisioii  southward  of  the  Esfpiimanx, 
mutilations  thus  voluntarily  endured  :  th';  while  themselves  gradually  extending? 
older  the  individual,  the  mire  numerous  tl  e  downwards  within  the  line  of  the  Coast 
cicatrices  which  he  bears.  While  resident  l{:in;i"e  of  Mnunlains.  There  are  several 
at  Milbank  .'-^onnd  in  IS.'J.J,  1  did  not  succeed  points  circnmstantially  corroborative  of 
in  learning  all  the  particulars  <if  the  ciis- ;  (his  o])inion  which  it  is  needless  to  enter 
torn;  but  1  have  since  received  s.ime  de- '  np  m,  vet  1  cannot  but  mention  that  two  re- 
tails which  1  shall  bri/lly  epitonii/.e.  -N  '  umte  tribes  are  apparently  of  this  connex- 
cliiel"  assuming  one  of  th  ise  moii<ly  lits  ion,  and  have  been  intercepted  by  the  grad- 
coiumon  among  divers  of  the  North  Ameri- 1  ual  extension  and  interlocking  of  otlior 
<'an  nations,  and  especially  those  of  the  (ribes  during  the  progress  of  the  emigra- 
North  west  t.'iiast,  retires  secretly  to  the  j  lion  southward  whicii  1  have  sujipo.sed. 
moiintains  ;  and  remains  tliere,  fasting  and  j  These  are  the  Sar.-!EEs  and  the  Ki.at.sk axai. 
in  set.'Iusion,  for  a  pi-riod  of  several  days.  Tiie  former,  iidiabitiug  the  plains  of  ujiper 
Hnring  this  period,  every  care  is  taken  not  ,><askatci)ewan,  and  now  ipiite  isolated, 
lo  appioach  tiu^  suspecteil  neighlmriiood  of  |  are  conuminly  ret'eived  as  di'scendants  of 
his  retreat  :  in  the  event  of  intrnsion  even  :  the Cliipewyans,  a  dialect,  of  whose  language 
death  is  the  r(.'|ii)rted  penally,  if  the  uiii'or- '  they  are  known  to  sjieak.  The  atHnity 
tiinate  inlrndi-r^  a  female  or  aslave.  .\f-  which  I  have  claimctl  for  the  Klatskiinai, 
ter  the  term  of  Hcdusion  is  passed,  sudden- 1  (who  inhabit  south  of  the  Columbia,  east  of 
ly  and  without  previous  warning,  the  phreii- 1  the  Killemooks  of  the  Coast,)  rests  upon 
zied  enthusiast,  howling  demoniacally,  rush- 1  till!  identity  of  several  words  in  ilaily  use, 
es  into  the  village.  The  women  secret*;  j  too  plrtinly  marked  to  arise  l'ro;n  accidental 
their  chi'  hen,  the  slaves  withdraw  in  ter- '  coincidence  ;  nor  can  it  lie  doubted  that  a 
ror,  and  tne  dogs  are  hastily  called  aside  rnor.'  extended  comparison  of  words  would 
by  their  anxious  mistrcs.ses  ;  for  dog,  or  .  tend  to  increase  ^  lie  number  of  instances  of 
slave  regarded  little  better  than  dog,  if  en-   identity. 

countered  during  this  assunnMl  phrenzy,  Ajiother  example  of  a  small  tribe  thus 
falls  speedily  a  sacrilice  ;  nor  do  children,  \  probaldy  isolattd  from  its  parent  rnco,  are 
if  not  destroyed  es';ape  scathless.  It  is  the  Kohtanais,  who  inhabit  the  angle  be- 
then  that  the  free  adults  submit  to  the  re-  tween  the  Saeliss  lands  and  the  eastern 
volting  mutilation;  the  horrors  oi' which  i  heads  of  the  Cohnnbia.  Unaware  of  the 
can  scarcely  be  exaggeialed.  Feisting  and  origin nf  this  tribe,  who,  attacked  year  af- 
presiMits  succeed,  wuh  all  the  mysteries  of  ter  year  as  (hey  visit  the  bnfl'alo  grounds  by 
the  Shaau'iir*.    V 


o'' 


their  mortal  foes  the  Blackfeet,  maintain 
Thus  far  advanced  in  theae  notes,  the"  still  a  noble  independence,  I  mention  them 
call  of  important  business  at  a  distance  us  illustrating  the  isolation  of  small  septa 
warus  me  to  conclude  more  abruptly  than  I  just  treated  of.  They  are  probably  of 
had   intended.     While  abandoning  the  at- j  southuti.    rigiu,  as  their  language  bears  no 


•.•h.vif.Mr.  3  t-jim  o.-  n.iii  ih  orgm,  jbo  I  widoy  oc  tuc  x.  'V.  j  aflSuitv  to  that  of  anv  of  the  tribes  to  which 

,a*t^  M04.C.U0,"  or  lUo  Airicau  "FoU^,-  might  bo  oorroe-  j  j  ^^^  ^,  j^^^       Decimated  ptTiodically  by 


ona«t 
pousivc, 


\ 


80 


HISTORICAL    MAGAZINE. 


[March, 


tlic  Uhickrccl,  llifir  imiiilicrs  sire  dwiiHlliiiu 
fust  ;  iiiid  I  I't'iir  tliiit  ere  luiu' tlic  rniiiiiiiits 
of  a  iiiililc  niiM',  will  in  ilicir  «'a>"  have 
j»ass('(l  away.  1  am  im  imniKitfr,  lie  it  iiu- 
(Icrstdod,  (if  that  iiiawkisli  nMiiaiicc  with 
vliich  lictioiiists  liavc  Itcfii  pli'iiscd  to  in- 
vest till'  Indian  trilics  ;  Imt,  while  in  sn  far 
jl^Vi'swvlw^  aj^ainst  niisapiirehensidn  (Hi 
this  point,  I  wimld  tain  dw  justice  tti  the 
many  ;^'oi)d  ((indities  hy  which  the  inteiinr 
races  are  fharaeteriJ!"d  :  the  virliu-i  which, 
spite  of  all  imperrcction.';,  shine  thron^di, 
cvor  and  anon, 

(iujil'  laK^iiidi  ynlu  Ira  mivi'li  fulii. 

Siidi  til"  my  reailers  as  in  the  ah-'cnoe  i  f 
other  opi>ortMnity,  may  have  Inrmed  their 
impressions  n|'  Indian  lii'e  and  character 
fVnin  the  allnrin,!.!'  lictinns  nf  Mr.  ('miper  ; 
or  thiise  who,  im  the  tippdsite  hand,  have 
imhil'ed  well  Iniinded  prejiidiees  from  eoin- 
mnnicatiiin  with  the  wretched  lish  eaters  of 
the  ('(ilninl)ia  and  its  nei.uhliiirin.n'  coast, 
will  do  wt'll  to  pause  as  reg'ards  tin- major- 
ity, helween  both  extremes.  I'rncuriiifi' 
an  abnndant  livelihood  with  little  exertion  ; 
gross,  aensnal,  and  for  the  most  part  eow- 
nrdly — the  races  who  depend  entirely,  or 
chietly,  on  lishin^',  are  immeasuraiily  inferi- 
or to  those  trilies,  who,  with  nerves  antl 
Kinows  hraced  by  e.Kcrcise,  and  minds  com- 
paratively ennijlded  liy  freijnent  excitement, 
live  conatantly  annd  war  and  the  chase. 
This  premised,  I  i>nl)join.  as  lianded  in  to  me, 
a  mcinorandiim  taken  in  1848,  by  my  inter- 
preter, Ldouard  lii-rlund,  then  in  churge  of 
the  Kootanais  ontpost.  It  may  be  reL,^ard- 
cd  as  authentic,  and  I  believe  correct. 

Population  of  the  Ivcjotanais  tribe,  as  ta- 
ken December,  i^tO.    /?/;/- 8 

Men.  l.iiil!'.  Wn  kCii.  Ti  I  il 
t'lipor  KtMit.iniils        .                .35        18         113  ICO 

K'"'Uiiia;.s  wild  IViqui'iit  tlir  rial- 

li.':il  iMiiiMliy         ...         44         33  18:i  ifitl 

•l.owiTK'i.'tai.iiis  W  ArcSiplutlOS      "S         4ti  •113  31)7 

li7       lOJ  h67  121* 

TI'.o  EsQuiMAfx  niust  indisputably  be  re- 
garded fis  of  cominun  origin  with  the 
Greenlanders  and  otl>or  Sanioiedic  races  oc- 
cupying the  «u,mc   belt  of    North  latitude. 

•it  Will  r.ot  csoapo  i:iiticj  ili.t  liio  Arcs  I'l.'.lt.^f,  vIki.tii 
mcfvi  rcniolu  fioru  coi.Uct  wiia  \:  ■->  Bluci.r.cr.,  a.o  liy  iIm: 
utiovti  aicinor.iQilimi  ia  u  far  i^iro  lluufiEU.iijj'  bUU)  Utau  tiio 
otlior  brnucbOB  of  llxia  tribu.  • 


Migrating  iicross  Davis'  Straits  as  I  have 
suppnsed  the  Chipewyans  tn  have  done 
across  those  nf  Dehring,  they  have  gradu- 
ally advanced  coastwise  in  Imth  directionn 
lo  the  extiMit  already  nolic(  d. 

1  shall  nut  hazard  any  opininn  in  regai'l 
to  the  probalde  conr.se  of  migratinn  of  the 
Saeliss,  and  other  interior  connexions,  fur- 
ther than  that  1  conceive  it  to  have  been 
from  the  southward  and  eastward,  p,radu- 
ally  advancing  until  interlocking  with  the 
coast  (ri'ies,  who  on  the  other  hand  for  the 
causes  liefore  adverted  to,  have  had  no  in- 
ducement to  W!'"  ler  far  into  the  interior. 
•I  All  the  tribes  of  this  portion  of  the  i'a- 
ciiic  Coast,  I  look  upon  as  originating  from 
the  islands  of  the  West — from  .lapan,  the 
Kuriles  and  elsewhere.  Nor  is  it  unsup- 
(lorted  hypothesis  almie  that  leads  me  to 
this  conclusinn  :  within  the  limited  period 
of  niy  tiwn  experience  on  this  coast,  I  have 
learnt  the  possibility  of  a  fortuitous  iunni- 
gration,  such  as  we  may  be  justitied  in  as- 
suming to  have  led  to  the  gradmil  jieopl/- 
ing  of  this  [lortion  "f  the  continent  in  tlie 
earlier  ages. 

For  instance  :  in  ISIU,  at  Cape  Disap- 
pointment, on  our  wav  to  the  northwest 
coast,  Indians  boarded  our  vessel  and  pro- 
duced a  nia|»  with  some  writing  in  tlapan- 
ese  characters  ;  a  string  of  the  perforated 
copper  coins  of  that  country  ;  and  other 
Convincing  proofs  of  a  shipwreck.  Ru- 
mors of  this  hud  been  heard  before,  and  af- 
ter this  corroboration,  the  conipany  dis- 
patched a  vessel  to  the  point  indicated.  It 
was  south  of  Cap(!  Flattery  (at  Queen-ha- 
ilth  I  believe.)  Three  survivors  of  the  crew 
were  ransomed  from  the  natives,  afterwards 
sent  to  England,  and  thence  t(j  Japan.  In 
as  far  as  could  be  understood  by  iis,  they 
were  bound  from  some  port  in  the  Japanese 
Island  of  Yesi,  to  another  jtort  in  tli(^ 
bsland  of  Niplion.  Losing  their  reckoning 
iu  a  typhoon,  they  drifted  for  many  months, 
at  the  mercy  of  wind  and  wave,  until  at 
length  stranded  at  the  point  of  shipwreck. 
The  crew  had  originally  consisted  of  forty, 
of  whom  the  greater  portion  had  peris'cc' 
at  sea  during  the  transit ;  three  only  fti""- 
viving  to  roach  tho  shore.    Were  tbifa  ihr 


>s. 


<-  -r  ^.    ^'■^ 


V 


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X 


/Vtr  M^  «- 


A. 


1868.] 


HISTORICAL   MAGAZINE. 


81 


X 


only  (!as  •  on  rooorfl,  of  junks  liavinj^  tims  tliat  larpo  quantities  of  booswnx  Iiavc  been 
(iritliMl  abroail,  I  ini^iit  possildy  1)(«  (axi'il  constantly   KJitlicrcd    in    tlio    samis    lli<»ro 
.  /         with  arj^ninj^  from  latluT  slcndor  pn'iniscs;  Ninci-  ilio  lirst  scllK'nicnt  ;  am]  il  is  still  o(s 
\^<J\jj  |)ut  tlu'io  are  nioic    Tiinrw  arc  two  from   casionallv  picki'il  u|i.* 

the  Honolulu  '"  I'olynosian,"  in  the  year  This  fact,  taken  in  <'onnection  with  tho 
1817.  quantiiv  of  beeswax  found  in  the  cargo  of 

On  the  21st  of  April  last,  (1847,)  the  iht  j  -iIc  picked  up  by  the  "Otaheite,"  is 
Hremen  ship  "Otnheite,"  in  Lat.  .'{5"  north,!  v.-xlid  idence  that  the  vessel  cast  on  the 
Lon.  150"  east,  fell  in  with  a  Japanese  junk,  1  Cl'^st  p  shore  must  have  likewise  bi'cn  IVoni 
which  had  lo.st  her  rudder  and  l)een  driven  .Tapan.  Some  of  tlie  iicw,  it  is  asserted, 
to  sea  in  a  gale  in  November,  IHlfi.'*  W  escaped  alive;  and  possibly  at  this  day  their 
'-  rescind  her  crew  of  nine  men,  and  took  out  1  desceii'ants  maybe  aniong  the  remnants 
ot  iicr  12,000  lbs.  of  beeswax  and  other  ar-j  of  'he  native  race. 

tides  of  her  cargo.  She  was  about  eighty  i  in  how  tiir  the  reL-xtioii  of  these  facts  may 
tons  burthen,  belonging  to  Osako,  and  be  i  onsidered  to  bear  upon  the  question,  it 
bound  to  the  North.  **  '  remains  with  my  readers  to  jii '  iv  ;  .as  also 

The  whaler  "  Frances  Henrietta,"  Poole,  in  how  far  the  ]>revious  8uppo>uions  ar(* 
of  New  Bedford,  in  3Iay,  1847,  fell  in  with  reconcilable  with  facts  drawn  from  other 
a  Japanese  jimk,  of  about  200  tons,  dis- 1  sources,      i-i 

mantled,  rudder  gone,  ami  otherwise  injur-'  At  the  reque:'-t  of  my  friend  Mr.  George 
ed  in  a  typhoon,  seven  months  previtiu.-.:  Gibbs,  I  have  given  such  brief  notes  as  I 
bound  to  Jeddo ;  crew  (rriginally  consisted  thought  might  prove  serviceable;  rcgret- 
of  seventeen  ;  but  four  only  were  surviving,  ting  that  tne  cause  already  stated  prevents 
two  in  a  most  pitiable  condition  from  fam-  {  my  extending  them  farther.  It  is  not  how- 
ino:  all  scarred  with  dirk  and  knife  wounds  ;|  ever  without  diffidence  that  I  have  hazard 
for  fearful  scenes  seemed  to  have  been  en-jed  aomc!  opinions  in  which  I  may  possibly 
acted  on  board  during  the  struggle  for  ex-  have  judged  erroneously,  but  the  expression 
istence,  and  amid  the  paroxysms  of  hunger  of  winch  I  conceived  to  fjill  within  the  in- 
and  despair.  There  are  other  ])arlicuiars  tention  of  !Mr.  Gibbs'  reepiest. 
given  which  it  is  needless  here  to  dweHi 


Alex'k  C.  Anderson. 
Cathlamet,  Washington  Ter.,  Aug.,  1865.  /*" 

•  I  last  iniintli  rocelvod  a  qnnntlty  of  the  rccenlly  caUiered  NKN 
wax.  ilml  hnd  been  |nitcliiisiii  from  the  iiiitlvi's  fur  me      Hiis- 


npon. 

There  is  another  case  of  a  sliip wreck 
mentioned  by  the  Indians  as  having  occur- 
red on  the  Clatsop  shore,  previous  to  the 
settlement  of  the  whites  among  them.   This  ,   .   _  ,        „ 

^•11  1  »     1    I       il       J-     .' «ux  H  Is  almost  supeifluoiis  to  riiuurk,  U  noted  tor  118  Quality 

19  Circumstantially  coiioborated  by  the  tact  to  n-siat  d«cuy. 


y 


Mfc, 


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